Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Over here! Over here!

Dear 2008,

Please End.

Thank You,

MH

Smashing Pumpkins-Auditorium Theatre 11/21/08-Review

Oh, Billy... Where to start??? It would be fair to start by saying that I loved the Smashing Pumpkins in high school. I have some very clear memories about this band and my teenage years. My first memory involves driving one of my brothers down to Champaign and hearing "Today," "Cherub Rock," and "Disarm" for the first time and multiple times on the drive there and back on the "college" radio station. The other involves the day I purchased "Pisces Iscariot." I had a soccer game earlier that morning and on the drive home my ride made his mom stop at Best Buy. For whatever reason this mom let me buy a cd too. I bought "Pisces Iscariot." I remember sitting on my bed listening to this album while staring out the window. It was cold, October, and rainy. I was 15 and a half sad teenager. This was the perfect record. Most importantly, I lost my innocence to a no good girl while listening to the Smashing Pumpkins. Yes, I lost my virginity while Billy Corgan cried in the background. "Soma" was the song. The build up and climax(pun intended) of that song fit so nicely in that moment...

Anyways, last night...Coming into it I was prepared not to like it. I had already seen them in New Orleans last year and they were terrible. Take that combined with the reviews of the current tour, and all signs pointed to, "Yes, you will have a bad time." This did not happen. I didn't have a bad time. I enjoyed it. Alot. All the parts that people really hated, I liked. People booed, walked out, etc., but I thought it was great. The first seven or songs rocked. Some new songs that I barely recognized where Billy sung about feeling alone ( Really, Billy? Really? You still feel alone at 41? Snap out of it.), a rocking version of "Siva" and the peak of the concert the "Mayonnaise"/"Tonight, Tonight" combo. This got everybody into a frenzy. From there on, it was downhill for half of the audience. What followed was a mix of metal, noise, pop, and Billy Corgan guitar solos. In between he played "Today" followed by "Bullet WIth Butterfly Wings" to keep the angry part of the crowd around just a little bit longer so they could hear some more noise, metal, and solos and make them officially hate the concert. The last song lasted about 20 minutes. By the end of it there were alot of empty chairs...But the half that stayed was going crazy and they stuck around for at least 15 minutes after the band left the stage screaming for an encore. The encore never happened.

So, why Billy do you still insist on pissing people off? Who knows. You call this a 20 year anniversary tour, yet you play a bunch new songs cause you don't want to be a reunion bad. Fair enough, but then you wear a "Zero" tshirt the whole concert? What the french, toast?!? Again, really Billy? Really? Are you really moving forward when you're wearing a shirt like that? A song that came out 12 years ago? And a shirt that is only currently worn by fat, depressed, 14 year olds?

The man is still confused, and conflicted and his new band is pretty good...

Blackout me made a comeback last night. Everybody loves a comeback.

Plastic Passion still reads my blog! I didn't even know she was still alive...

The rumors aren't true. I didn't follow Morrissey around the world and i did make it back from Coachella. Let me tell you though, a part of you always stays at Coachella. Go, and you'll see...At some point last year i decided that it was a bit weird that someone would care about my opinion or what i ate for breakfast. Maybe you don't care, maybe you do. I don't know. Or maybe you're just really fucking bored. Anyways, happy new year. I'm planning on blogging a little bit more this year, but we'll see...It's a plan, not a promise. I will say that I am very happy 2007 is over. Personally, it wasn't one of the best years. But we will live to fight another day. 2008 is ours.

I will say that 2007 was a great year for music. So many amazing albums, and songs, and concerts, and festivals... Amazing musical moments for 2007... Interpol, Hot Chip, and Jesus and Mary Chain at Coachella. Tiesto at Voodoo. M.I.A. at the Vic, Daft Punk(in general). LCD Soundsystem at Randall's Island in NYC. Kala, In Rainbows, Neon Bible. The Good Life(see 1st paragraph. If you gone through any heart wrenching experiences lately you should definitely listen to the Good Life, Help Wanted Nights).

Does anybody still check this thing? Leave a comment! Hopefully, Ultragrrrl will google herself and leave one too!

Cheers to 2008!

Wow!

Morrissey
Tonight
Oh
Yeah

Coachella
Officially
3
Days

I
told
you
that
in
September

You
should
listen
to me

...and I've never met anyone quite like you before. Hot Chip played a bit of "Temptation" by New Order last night and I almost lost it. In case you didn't know "Temptation" is my favorite song in the whole wide world. It's true. The concert was great, but I'm not gonna lie to you, the Rapture show was more dancetastic.

Next concert, Morrissey!

...I think we are starting to turn the corner. Change feels good. Real good. And it's November 8th and it's around 70 degrees. What a great day.

I like voting cause I get to vote at the Happy Village. Voting at bars is cool.

I like the Rapture. They were awesome on Sunday at the Metro. They make me dance.

I like Hot Chip. Friday night! What? What!

I like this girl at work, but I can't get more than a "hi" or a "hey" out of my mouth. I'm such a loser. I need a good conversation starter. Suggestions. Now. Go!

I like you. Do you like me?(insert Borat voice)

Morrissey is sold out.

Lollapalooza is coming back to Chicago...for the next 5 years. Dates for 2007 have already been announced, August 3-5. See you there.

There is a Morrissey pre-sale tomorrow from 10am to 10pm. There are two passwords wxrtvip and ringleader. Thanks to John Wayne's Daughter and some Morrissey geeks for the info. Don't be offended if I called you a Morrissey geek. I'm one too.

In other news, I love Hot Chip!

Morrissey will be playing the Aragon on Nov 21st! That's a Tuesday night for those of you playing at home. Woohoo! Supposedly, it's the only U.S. show. Tickets go on sale this Saturday at noon. AwesomeDawson.